School Ties
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Documentary Series
On top of the varying degrees of bullying, substance abuse, verbal abuse, racism, gangsterism, guns and weapons and vandalism, South Africa's schoolchildren are also experiencing rampant sexual abuse and grooming - largely at the hands of those who are in charge of their care and education at school.
In 2019, the South African Council of Educators (SACE) recorded 122 cases of sexual abuse of pupils by teachers - noting that two out of three cases go unreported.
School Ties a four-part documentary series about the grooming and sexual abuse of learners at some of South Africa's most prominent, prestigious boys' schools.
While virtually all schools in the country will grapple with sexual misconduct at some point, abuse that happens in the most prestigious schools tends to be well hidden and therefore has perpetrators who get away with it for many years - leaving many harmed children in their wake.
The docuseries series uncovers the truth behind grooming and abuse in schools across the country, the aftermath and what government, schools and society are doing to stop abuse in its tracks.
The four episodes tackle one case at a time: the suicide of 16-year-old Thomas Kruger after an allegedly inappropriate relationship with the school's charismatic water polo coach; another water polo coach caught on surveillance camera abusing boys in his care, at a school where the silence was maintained for too long.
The series also explores Julio Mordoh's suicide a decade after allegedly experiencing abuse by his own school sports coach and the discovery of a previously convicted water polo coach who was located working with children at a holiday camp in the UK.
Rather than sensationalising the details, the series focuses on interviews with child protection experts to help parents identify tell-tale signs of sexual abuse from their children.
It unpacks the history of elite institutions that in many cases act as a breeding ground for these behaviours and speaks to the law enforcement team involved in investigating the wide-ranging abuse that occurs at schools across the country.
School Ties aims to bring into focus the solutions and interventions that need to be adopted to safeguard learners at schools.
Although the tragedies that have occurred are heartbreaking, there is the opportunity to ensure that we address and relook at systems that should be protecting scholars.
The Black American Fight for Freedom
Channel: S3
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Documentary
According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, in America, if you are Black, you are five times more likely to go to prison than if you're white.
And the typical white family has eight times the wealth of the typical black family.
Fifty years on from the promise of equality and the Civil Rights Act, The Black American Fight for Freedom examines key moments where America had the chance to become more equal and why that didn't happen.
Through interviews with those who were at the forefront of the struggle for a fair system in three areas - education, housing, and criminal justice - the documentary explores the key court cases, Supreme Court rulings and laws that failed to bridge the gap.
This film gives us the shocking context to the anger felt by the millions of people who took to the streets during the Black Lives Matter protests.
The movement was not just calling for an end to police brutality, but was asking for something that had been pledged 50 years ago: racial equality.
Fixer to Fabulous: Italiano
Channel: HGTV (DStv 177)
TX Time: 21h00
Genre: Reality Makeover, Home Improvement, Reality
Fixer to Fabulous stars Dave and Jenny Marrs who journey to Italy's Tuscan countryside from their hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, to revitalize a grand villa for longtime friends.
The six-episode season will document the Marrs, who first visited Italy as newlyweds, as they execute a monumental restoration of the centuries-old property.
Inspired by the rich history, rolling hillsides and leafy olive groves of the region, Dave and Jenny will rely on the help of local builders, architects and artisans to meet historic building regulations and source authentic materials such as handmade terracotta tiles, olive wood floors and Carrara marble.
Bringing this behemoth renovation across the finish line will take all the grit, determination and building savvy they can muster to overcome language barriers, months of delays, budget restraints, looming deadlines and an immense amount of pressure.
In the series premiere, "Tuscan Wake Up Call": Dave and Jenny will meet up with their longtime friends, Pierre and Rebecca, who are investing their life savings to renovate the timeworn villa into a charming vacation rental for tourists.
As demolition gets underway, the Marrs run into a slew of challenges including a sudden snowstorm, permit delays and building restrictions.
Tietie en Nanna Kook
Channel: VIA (DStv 147)
TX Time: 17h00
Genre: Food, Afrikaans
Sisters Tietie and Nanna live in Strand in the Western Cape.
They love food and their family - and they enjoy sharing that love with the world via their shared TikTok account.
In each episode of this cooking show, the sisters cook two dishes in their own kitchen.
They either just cook what inspires them on that day or for a special guest or family member.
Woven through their halaal cooking will be stories of their lives, loves and hardships.
Bridgerton: Season 3 Part 1
Channel: Netflix South Africa
TX Time: 10h00 (all episodes)
Genre: Period Drama
Bridgerton is back for its third season and finds Penelope Featherington has finally given up on her long-held crush on Colin Bridgerton after hearing his disparaging words about her last season.
She has, however, decided it's time to take a husband, preferably one who will provide her with enough independence to continue her double life as Lady Whistledown, far away from her mother and sisters.
But lacking in confidence, Penelope's attempts on the marriage mart fail spectacularly.
Meanwhile, Colin has returned from his summer travels with a new look and a serious sense of swagger.
But he's disheartened to realise that Penelope, the one person who always appreciated him as he was, is giving him the cold shoulder.
Eager to win back her friendship, Colin offers to mentor Penelope in the ways of confidence to help her find a husband this season.
But when his lessons start working a little too well, Colin must grapple with whether his feelings for Penelope are truly just friendly.
Complicating matters for Penelope is her rift with Eloise, who has found a new friend in a very unlikely place, while Penelope's growing presence makes it all the more difficult to keep her Lady Whistledown alter ego a secret.
The Rookie 6
Channel: M-Net (DStv 101)
TX Time: 19h00
Genre: Drama, Police Procedural
John Nolan, the oldest rookie in the LAPD, has used his life experience, determination and sense of humour to keep up with rookies 20 years his junior.
Nolan is continually put to the test by a host of new challenges, romantic relationships and deadly criminals, as he looks to figure out what kind of cop he ultimately wants to be.
In the Season 6 premiere, "Strike Back": In the aftermath of the assaults in the explosive Season 5 finale, the team must now try to understand why they were targeted and if there is a bigger plan in place.
Meanwhile, Nolan must survive his last shift before his wedding to Bailey.
Nganele
Channel: Mzansi Wethu (DStv 163)
TX Time: 18h00
Genre: Reality
We saw them on Makoti... Are You the One?, in which the four makotis were trying to get marriage blessings from their future in-laws.
They got their answers... but where to from here?
Nganele follows three of the four original couples as they navigate life post the series.
Their journey was one of trying to prove to their potential in-laws that they are enough, but now - after going through the experiment - the ladies finally believe that they are enough, regardless of whether they make it to the altar or not.
From paternity tests to devastating losses to relocations and lobola, the three couples have been dealt different blows and it remains to be seen who will really make it to the altar.